A man burgled a woman next door neighbour while she and her child were on holiday over the festive period.

David Summers was caught when crime scene investigators analysed blood found at the scene and matched it to his.

Summers, 36, formerly of Fielding Road, North Shore, now living at Edelston Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to burglary.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Summers’ female neighbour at Fielding Road went away on holiday between December 18 last year and January 5.

She returned home to see a glass panel had been broken and two televisions had been stolen.

When interviewed by police Summers said he had been drunk. He had taken a bed sheet with him to transport the items he stole and sold the TV’s for £50.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client’s marriage had broken up, he was drinking too much and had got himself in debt. He believed his neighbour had moved out of the property and it was for let.

Summers was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on March 15 for sentence.

Terry Hartley, 40, theft

A man turned to crime and stole meat after splitting up with his wife.

Terry Hartley decided to leave her because he said she was using drugs and he feared he might go back on drugs himself, but once they parted he had no money.

Hartley, 40, of Chepstow Road, Grange Park, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 costs with £20 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Hartley was seen on CCTV at the resort’s Sainsburys putting packets of meat valued at £26 into a bag on January 27 at 8.40pm.

He walked out without paying and had to be detained on the floor after swearing and making threats against a security officer. Hartley had 35 previous convictions for theft and similar offences.

Stephen Duffy, defending, said that in the past his client had had drug and alcohol addictions. Hartley had got to grip with his problems, partly with his wife’s help.

He had parted with his wife this year because she was using drugs and he feared that would lead him back to drugs.

He then had no benefits and no accommodation and stole the meat intending to eat it. Hartley had broken his shin bone and only recently had the plaster removed. He said he had been frogmarched by the security officer after taking the meat and suffered pain.

David Bick, 40, driving with excess alcohol

A senior civil servant who was almost five times over the alcohol limit has been punished by being given the maximum driving ban.

David Bick had been drinking vodka and was trapped by police in his home village after officers received a tip-off about him.

Bick, a Department of Works and Pensions chief, gave a breathalyser test which showed 161 microgrammes of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

Bick was sentenced to 12 weeks jail suspended for 18 months, put on an 18 months community order with up to 50 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service and ordered to pay £85 costs with £115 victims’ surcharge.

He was also banned from driving for five years. Presiding magistrate, Alan Sandham, told him: “This is the maximum we can give. The court feels it must pass this severe sentence.”

Prosecutor, Peter Bardsley, said police received information about a possible drink-driver in Hambleton on January 11 about midnight.

A police patrol saw Bick in an Audi A4 which was crawling along Carr Lane in the village. Police stopped and breathalysed him.

The prosecutor said: “The defendant’s reading was well on the way to be five times over the limit.”

Defence lawyer, Tony Broadley, said his client had no previous convictions and a clean driving licence.

Mr Broadley added: “He has had an alcohol problems for several years. He has a good job with the DWP and there has been a disciplinary hearing at work over this incident. If he does not receive a custodial sentence he will not lose his job.

“He has been terrified about appearing in court. This really will be the last time you see this man in court.”

Louise Bennett, 36, driving with excess alcohol

A mother was over the alcohol limit when she ran out of fuel on a motorway in a dangerous position on a slip road.